Protein – The What, Why and How Much of this Vital Food Category

High-protein diets are having a moment on social media and gaining a lot of traction among wellness influencers. The topic #highprotein gets 40 million views a week on TikTok!

 

What used to be a diet for bulking up is now common practice for losing weight and blood sugar regulation. With any trend, it’s important to look at the science, so let’s break it down and see if a high-protein diet is worth the hype.

 

What is Protein?

Protein is composed of amino acids, the building blocks of muscles, hair, fingernails, enzymes, hormones, antibodies and more. These essential nutrients fuel muscle movement, growth and repair. Our bodies require protein for survival, power and energy, and its many benefits are abundant.

 

The PROS of Plentiful Protein

A high-protein diet:

 

• Fuels lean muscle mass, strength and movement
  
  
• Increases metabolism (the rate your body burns fat or other fuel for energy), which supports weight management and fitness goals
  
  
• Supports energy and endurance
  
  
• Nourishes the body